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Head of School & Training, Lagos Aviation Academy, Mr Bolaji Durojaiye; Managing Director, TravelDen, Mr Olugbenga Onitilo; Group Managing Director, Finchglow Holdings, Mr Bankole Bernard; Managing Director, Finchglow Travels, Mr Ezekiel Ikotun; Managing Director, FCM Nigeria, Adejoju Olutimayin at a Finchglow Holdings media appreciation event in Lagos on Thursday February 16th.
The Group Managing Director of Finchglow Holdings Limited, Mr Bankole Bernard has stated that the plan of the company is to consolidate its position as a key player in the travel trade business in Nigeria and Africa.
Speaking during an interactive session with aviation journalists at Lagos Aviation Academy (LAA) Facility in Ikeja, Lagos, Mr. Bernard stated that the year 2025 will be a year of paradigm shift for the company.
He noted that the Finchglow Aviation School is making a lot of impact in the economic well-being of Nigerians by taken the youth out of the street and given them quantity aviation training.
He disclosed the company has expanded its management team with the coming of Mr Olugbenga Onitilo, a veteran in the industry as the Managing Director of TravelDen, one of Finchglow Holdings subsidiaries.
Finchglow Holdings boss said in 2025, the company is going to be bringing a lot changes into the business.
He said the company won the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) account last year, which is a big one for the business.
Bernard disclosed that the company’s aviation school trained 40 staff of SAHCO PLC in 2024, adding that the company will be moving it’s office at NAHCO building to SAHCO building this year.
He stated that the company’s aviation school has about 100 students, adding that when the school started, the Nigerian Civil Aviation approved 25 students limit for cabin crew training, but increased that during inspection to 50 students.
On the challenge of foreign airlines trapped funds in 2023/2024, Bernard said the problem may never happen again because of the measures taken to address the challenge, including uncertainties in planning, resulting from fluctuations in the exchange rate of the naira to the dollar which has made government introduce a policy that led to forex stability.
Commenting on the cargo business in the country, Finchglow boss pointed out that there is a lot of vacuum in the cargo business, stressing the need for change in the way things are done in that sector.
He said packaging has been the major problem in the cargo business in the country.
Bernard observed that with airports springing up in every state, the can be converted to cargo airports for moving goods out of the country.
He said a venture into the business will be a wake-up call for the players in the industry .
He said the aviation school had students coming from United Kingdom, Ghana and Cameroun with plans to increase the numbers.
Bernard stressed the need for more Nigerian airlines to join the IATA clearing House after Air Peace joined.
He said in the absence of that, there may be need to creat a local clearing house for the domestic airlines.
Finchglow boss stated further that domestic airlines joining IATA clearing House will create more opportunities for partnership, codeshare, accessing foreign exchange from anywhere in the world among others.
He advised that airlines that want to survive should not limit itself to point to point service.
Bernard lauded the Minister of Aviation, Mr Festus Keyamo for creating some level of awareness in the industry such that the industry is one of the most talked about sector under the present administration.
He disclosed further that the first Live edition of Finchglow Partners Plus held in Abuja in 2024 had over 140 trade partners in attendance.
Commenting on the recent Detty December experienced in the country which led to the influx of tourists into the country, Bernard explained that the because of the country’s cheap currency, which is making a lot of people coming for the first time to take advantage of the cheap currency to explore what the country has to offer interms of tourism, hospitality, music, art and culture.
He said this development has given a good impression and belief that Nigeria is safe .
Speaking during the press conference also, Mr Onitilo who has worked with many international airlines said the company has great plan for the year.
He stated that Travelden is looking at becoming a major force in the Online Travel Agency, OTA this year with great plans to scale up the business.
Onitilo said there is going to be a massive expansion drive for the company to have a foot print in major markets across the country.
He pointed out that the company
is going to be creating opportunities for empowerment for the youth and women through a mutual system with government and key partners.
Onitilo noted that in 2025, Travelden will be bold to priortise customer service.
He said Travelden will be revamping the OTA by ensuring that there is enough inventory sources and a fully functional call centre service.
Onitilo said the company is going to be investing a lot in customer service, expansion in key cities interms of B-B business.
He maintained that the company will also be be consolidating on the travel business this year ofas there is strength in corporate travel.
Speaking also, the Managing Director, FCM Nigeria, Adejoju Olutimayin stated that the Shell business the company won last year made them to expand their operations to Warri, Port Harcourt and other places, stressing that managing Shell has also opened more doors for the company as it also won British America Tobacco(BAT) account last year.
She also stated that with Shell account, other accounts will also be secured very soon.
Olutimayin emphasised that the company as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for 2025 is planning to feed a large number of the less privileged ranging from 500 and increasing the number to 1000.
In his comments, the Head of School & Training, Lagos Aviation Academy, Mr Bolaji Durojaiye noted that the school has now expanded the cabin crew school to now include training in Ebraer and CRJ aircraft.
Mr Durojaiye said the vision is to position the school as the best in Nigeria and Africa interms of quality .
